FTII deadlock: Talks fail to lead to breakthrough

Mumbai: A fresh round of talks on Wednesday between I&B officials and striking FTII students failed to resolve the over 100-day deadlock with the students insisting on their demand for removal of actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as the Pune-based institute’s chairman. Both sides, however, agreed to take forward the talks and agreed to meet again on October 10. “The main demand of removal Chauhan as FTII chairman and the dissolution of its society are still not resolved and these would be discussed during the next round of talks on October 10, Vikas Urs, spokesperson of FTII students, told reporters after the meeting.

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sunil Arora led the parleys held at the Films Division office here,also attended by Joint Secretary (Films) K Sanjay Murthy, Director General of Films Division Mukesh Sharma, FTII Director Prashant Pathrabe and registrar UC Bodke. Apart from seven students, the Film and Television Institute of India’s (FTII) alumni association representative Aruna Raje was also invited for the talks.

Urs said, “We had fairly elaborate discussions with the Secretary of I&B Ministry and briefed them on the issues, including the unfair appointments in the FTII society and its nature of functioning that have led to the current crisis on the campus. We also discussed the urgent need of transforming the FTII society into an internationally acclaimed institution. But, the meeting was inconclusive. However, we are very much hopeful that something would come out extremely positive on October 10 when we will be meeting the same delegation here, he said.”

“When we would have the next round of talks, these demands would be on top of the agenda,” he said.